Princess Mary expecting twins

I'd like to have that experience again. That boundless freedom of childhood is so wonderful. The world is so different for a child, waking in the mornings, wide-eyed and ready to take it all in.

The Australian-born royal - who already has two children, Christian, four, and three-year-old Isabella, with husband Crown Prince Frederik - has been at the centre of pregnancy rumours for months.

The royal is expected to give birth to the two babies in January in Rigshospitalet - the national hospital in Copenhagen - according to an official statement by the palace.

However, the pair have denied suggestions the princess fell pregnant after undergoing IVF fertility treatment, and said in a statement: "It's a natural pregnancy".

Speculation the couple were expecting a third child was sparked when numerous pictures showed the princess, 38, wearing loose-fitting clothing and she declined to go horseback riding during a recent visit to Graasten Palace.

Mary and Frederik have been trying to extend their family for over a year.

The princess admitted last March she wanted more children and looked forward to the joys of motherhood once again.

She said: "I'd like to have that experience again. That boundless freedom of childhood is so wonderful. The world is so different for a child, waking in the mornings, wide-eyed and ready to take it all in."